Key Takeaways
- Ticketpro, the ticketing arm of JSE‑listed Blu Label Unlimited, was sold in May 2026 to a women‑owned empowerment consortium linked to Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie and his Patriotic Alliance (PA) party.
- Bakang Lethoko, McKenzie’s former chief of staff at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, became Ticketpro’s new CEO and sole director after the transaction.
- Blu Label states the sale was a confidential private transaction that fell below JSE listing‑requirement thresholds, so no Sens announcement was required.
- Ticketpro remains the official ticketing partner for Cricket South Africa and is poised to handle the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, raising questions about potential political influence over procurement.
- Financial disclosures show the subsidiary was sold for R5 million, resulting in a net outflow of R35 million for Blu Label, while the exact post‑sale ownership structure remains undisclosed.
Background of the Sale
Blu Label Unlimited, a telecommunications group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, decided to divest its Ticketpro subsidiary in May 2026. The buyer was described only as a “women‑owned empowerment consortium” with ties to Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie and his Patriotic Alliance party. The transaction was completed privately, and neither Blu Label nor the purchaser has disclosed the precise shareholding breakdown or the identities of all investors involved.
Leadership Changes After the Deal
Following the sale, Bakang Lethoko—who had served as McKenzie’s chief of staff at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture—was appointed Ticketpro’s chief executive officer. She also became the company’s sole director in June 2026. A new corporate entity, Ticketpro Group, was registered in August 2026; its director list includes a self‑declared PA member, though it remains uncertain whether this group holds all of Ticketpro’s shares or if other undisclosed parties retain interests.
Blu Label’s Position on Disclosure
Blu Label maintains that the sale was conducted under standard confidentiality clauses typical of private transactions. As a listed company, it is required to report material decisions via the JSE’s Stock Exchange News Service (Sens), but the firm argued that the Ticketpro disposal fell below the thresholds that trigger a “categorisable” transaction, thus no Sens announcement was obligatory. Blu Label further asserted that it had already disclosed the requisite commercial terms in its financial statements.
Financial Details of the Transaction
According to Blu Label’s 2025/2026 Annual Financial Statements, Ticketpro was sold on 31 May 2026 for an amount of R5 million. The deal resulted in a net outflow of R35 million for the group, as reflected in its latest Consolidated Financial Statements. Blu Label noted that the transport‑ticketing division of Ticketpro—described as the most commercially viable and consistently profitable unit—remained within the Blu Label Group, while the sport‑and‑events ticketing business was the portion sold to the empowerment consortium.
Strategic Rationale Behind the Divestiture
Blu Label explained that the sport and events ticketing segment lacked strategic fit with its broader distribution model and was considered sub‑scale. The group argued that continuing to allocate capital and management resources to this unit was not justified by its contribution to overall performance. Consequently, the decision to sell was driven by internal portfolio optimisation rather than any external commercial relationship, such as the ticketing agreement with Cricket South Africa.
Ticketpro’s Ongoing Sports Contracts
Despite the change in ownership, Ticketpro retains its role as the official ticketing partner for Cricket South Africa (CSA). Tickets for the Proteas’ upcoming home summer season are still sold through the platform, and there are strong indications that Ticketpro has secured the contract to provide ticketing services for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup. This continuation of high‑profile sports contracts has drawn attention, given Minister McKenzie’s regulatory oversight of CSA and the potential for perceived conflicts of interest.
Ministerial Response and Allegations of Influence
Gayton McKenzie has publicly stated that he does not possess the authority to influence procurement decisions within CSA or any other government entity. Nevertheless, the linkage between his former chief of staff—now Ticketpro’s CEO—and the PA‑linked ownership consortium has prompted scrutiny from media outlets and opposition parties. Critics argue that the timing of the sale, coupled with the ensuing sports‑ticketing contracts, warrants a closer examination of whether political connections facilitated the transaction.
Statements from Former Ticketpro Leadership
Brandon Duffield, Ticketpro’s former CEO under Blu Label, said he was unaware of any political connections among the new owners. He recalled meeting Bakang Lethoko only once, during a Teams call, and expressed ignorance about the identity of the other shareholders involved in the takeover. When questioned about the political undertones of the story, Duffield responded dismissively, asking, “Why must you do a story like that?”—highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the transaction’s opacity.
Unresolved Questions and Future Investigations
The exact composition of Ticketpro’s post‑sale ownership remains unclear. Although Ticketpro Group was registered after the deal, it is uncertain whether this entity holds all shares or if additional, undisclosed investors retain stakes. Daily Maverick’s ongoing “Caught Out” series promises to delve deeper into the transaction, seeking clarity on the consortium’s members, any potential governmental influence, and the broader implications for South Africa’s sport and culture economy. Readers with further information are encouraged to come forward to assist the investigation.